M-SHS World Language instructor Ellen Ericson has been recognized with the 2017 ICTFL Distinguished Educator Award from the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.  

The Distinguished Educator Award recognizes educators whose exemplary teaching has provided inspiration to large numbers of foreign language students and/or teachers. This category includes persons who have distinguished themselves in teacher education and as in-service trainers, as well as in the actual teaching of languages and cultures. 

In addition to her duties teaching Spanish at Mahomet-Seymour High School, Ellen has devoted countless hours over the years mentoring other teachers and pursuing ongoing training to enhance her own professional expertise.   Ellen was one of the first cadre of Illinois teachers to be trained in the TALL-IL program in 2013.  In 2014 Ellen completed ACTFL’s Oral Proficiency Interview training.  She has presented workshops to teachers on Backward Design, Creating Units, and Proficiency Based Learning. In 2015, Ellen represented ICTFL in the CW/EW, Conference Workshop/Extension Workshop on the topic of “Integrated Proficiency Based Assessment: Moving from Performance to Proficiency” at the Central States Conference.  She and the other Illinois teachers from the CW/EW presented the ICTFL teacher training workshop “WinterFest” in 2016.   Her colleagues at ICTFL recognize Ellen as a learner, a team-player and an active member of our teaching profession.

Congratulations Mrs. Ericson on a job well done!